Enjoy Your Pregnancy But Play It Safe
When it comes to pregnancy, there are a lot of things that expecting mothers can do that will help them stay safe and happy throughout the pregnancy. With that said, it does not mean you have to give up having fun and doing a lot of the things you still enjoy doing while you are pregnant. You simply have to go about those activities a little differently.
Don’t Stop Exercising, Just Change Your Routine A Bit
If you exercise before getting pregnant, then most doctors will inform you that it is still safe to exercise during pregnancy. This, of course, will be determined after monthly examinations. If you are a runner, you may have to cut back to brisk walking or less intense runs but you will still be able to retain an active lifestyle. The same goes for workouts at the gym. You may need to scale back the intensity and limit any weights, but you will still be able to release those endorphins in a less strenuous workout.
Mix Up A Nice Mocktail
Speaking of things to avoid, alcohol is a big no-no during pregnancy. Do you find yourself wishing you could have a drink at a birthday party, work party, or just to unwind on a Saturday night? There is nothing wrong with missing your favorite cocktail, but there are also baby-friendly ways to enjoy one. Simply create a mocktail. In case you do not know what that is, it is a replica of your favorite alcoholic drink without the alcohol. In fact, a lot of juices taste similar to fun fruity drinks. If you typically drink vodka lemonade, you can have lemonade. If you enjoy margaritas, try some limeade instead. You can also enjoy a Shirley Temple which is grenadine and citrus soda, or get a bit fancier and use fresh-squeezed juices, club soda, and some sugar-free syrup to create a one of a kind mocktail.
What Should You Give Up?
There are a few things that you will have to cut out, but there are alternative solutions that make the temporary elimination much easier. If you frequent hot tubs, you will have to give those up. It is not recommended for women to use hot tubs during pregnancy. Instead of sitting in a hot tub, you could relax in a more neutral climate swimming pool. If you are looking to relieve muscle by the use of a hot tub, then opt for a massage from a therapist certified in massages for expectant mothers or try some new stretches to ease that aching back.
Make Some Dietary Changes
You will also need to cut out soft cheeses, some types of deli meats, and alcohol from your diet, as well as sushi. A complete list of foods that should be eliminated can be found here. There are plenty of alternatives that you can enjoy that will help you miss your favorite foods and beverages a bit less throughout your pregnancy. As far as sushi is concerned, ditch the raw fish and eat the completely vegetarian rolls or the ones with cooked seafood. You will have to ditch your soft cheeses but you can expand your variety of hard cheeses and may even find a new favorite cheese craving.
Enjoy This Time
Don’t forget to enjoy your pregnancy. With these lists of things that you are supposed to avoid, it becomes worrisome and sometimes non-enjoyable. The few months that you are pregnant you will go through a wide variety of stages and feelings. You will go from the early-on excitement that is usually followed by the morning or all day sickness that will leave you less than excited to even partake in the workouts and meals that you used to enjoy on a daily basis.
Once your second trimester hits, you are usually ready to begin resuming the life you had prior to your positive pregnancy test. This is where everything has to happen in moderation, but you can really get out there and enjoy the pregnancy.
By the third trimester, you will probably find yourself in nesting mode and planning ahead by setting up the nursery and creating freezer meals for yourself and your family after the baby is born. This is totally normal and just shows you are ready to meet your little one. Throughout these fast nine months, make sure you take some time for yourself and enjoy a few nice meals, mocktails, and activities that you love.
